Notes from the sky ...

The kisses in the sky are back.. drawing back the curtains this morning, I saw the familiar criss cross patterns that have evaded our unblemished skies for the last week.
I know for some of you.. it has been a week of frustrations, being stranded at various destinations across the globe, but I for one, I have loved the peace of a plane-less word, hearing nothing but birdsong in the morning and not the usual roar and down shifting of engines as the planes start their descent to Bristol airport. Doesn't it feel good to reclaim the world as it was before air travel became the prerogative of society? I know that B.A would certainly not agree with me!
After the long wasteland of winter.. my blogging spirit seems to have returned along with the longer days and that bright thing in the sky... I have woken up to the fact that there is much to do this next week, with preparations for the 4th Vintage & Handmade Fair looming and a small matter of a photo-shoot days after.. Panic is the order of the day!
Whilst still in holiday mode..Mr Custard and I stepped out to a local open garden last weekend.. a real gem of a place..tucked betwixt Bath and Bristol and never before discovered.. by me at least. So it was... last Saturday that we took the short journey to Hanham Court..and boy was I excited about seeing this place having picked up a brochure in the local garden centre the week before.
It was a perfect day for seeing this special place for the first time.. the sun was warm..almost too warm... and the skies lapis blue..a perfect backdrop for some of the plants you are about to see.
So take my hand and I will lead you through the gates in to this enchanted world....


Turning through the gates we were met by the most beautiful sight.. a display of Snakes Head Fritillaries..


A whole field of them nestling under a large walnut tree..

Down in the valley below lives a Gypsy caravan.. perfect for that weekend in the country.. even if it is in your own back garden..


Now this is what I call high rise living...the dearest little tree house tucked away in branches of an old Yew tree.. I almost expected Hansel & Gretel to appear at the windows..


Far from grotty.. the pretty grotto framing the pond area...


... rich with pots of cheery tulips..



I loved this little lonesome tin caravan..


Sitting on the edge of the gardens and looking so pretty with it's Magnolia neighbours...


Striking a pose against the deep blue sky..


Criss crossing paths.. with surprises around every corner..


Like this beautiful Auricula Theatre which is currently housing pots of Pansies and Violas..


This one leading back to the house...




.... and oh.. what a house....

Part medieval court house and dripping in the largest Wisteria I think I have ever seen..
We have vowed to return throughout the summer to see the latest blooms and have been told that the roses and tree Peonies are something to behold....
So if you are ever in this neck of the woods on a Friday - Sunday... then I urge you to take the time to visit this magical garden.. you will not be disappointed !

There is plenty of floribunda to be seen elsewhere too...
For example in Milly & Dottie's Dovecote where you will find delightful floral puzzles..

...and all manner of garden ephemera.. or in the Library where there is plenty of summer-time reading to brush up your knowledge of flora and fauna..


Before I pick up my trowel for the day and venture out in to my ' not so grand garden' .. I will leave you with this charming Oilette floral still-life By Henri Cheppy a well known 19th century artist ..


One of the Raphael Tuck series of "Jewels from Nature's Garden' series.. This will be coming to the Vintage & Handmade Fair with me on May 1st...if I can bear to part with it!

More about the fair in the next blog post...

Meanwhile I hope you have a wonderful day cultivating your freckles and gardens in this beautiful Spring weather..

Wot i did in my hols .....

Do you remember those obligatory essays that would always follow a school holiday? I can think of no other way to bring you up to date with my adventures than to write an account of what I did in my Easter hols which are sadly drawing to a close when my boys return to their suits and studies tomorrow.
The start of our holidays was spent consuming chocolate with relish and gay abandon as I had miraculously managed to give it up for Lent.. the double chin had receded and I was feeling positively virtuous.. but two weeks on.. the excess baggage has returned and I am a fallen woman.. eating Oreo's, Kettle Crisps and Brie toasted sandwiches without remorse or conscience.
Easter Monday we set off at the crack of dawn, leaving a note and can opener for our cat to help himself to any tin he could reach in the cupboard (would I?.. cat was fed and watered by neighbours before you call the R.S.P.C.A) and we headed for the beautiful Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall for the second Homespun Fair hosted by Jane and Christine. It was strange to be a visitor this time as I was fortunate to attend their first successful fair in August last year.
Arriving bang on time to see a queue forming outside.. we filtered in to the pretty hall and I set eyes first on Nicky's fine family of bunnies ...

.. before working my way around the hall to be greeted so warmly by dear Viv and her husband... Jane was busy putting the finishing touches to her delicious stall, Amanda from Shabby Chick was sitting amongst an impressive display of vintage finery.

Lizzie, Leonore and Clare were also familiar faces and were soon lost in the rapidly filling hall by a sea of people eagerly parting with their pennies..
I failed to take more photos as I was too busy soaking up the friendly buzz in the hall and spending some precious time catching up with old friends..
Mr Custard meanwhile had wandered off as he still isn't sure he 'gets' the vintage concept .. so I caught up with him down in the pretty village of Portscatho where we ate our hot, scrummy pasties sitting in the harbour trying to avoid the opportunist seagulls.
No visit to this pretty corner of Cornwall would be complete without stepping in to the delightfully bijou and pretty emporium of the Sea Garden owned by Christine...

.. Such a delightful shop crammed with wall to wall loveliness.. vintage finds, desirable jewellery made by Christine herself and so much more ...

It was not long before we had to turn our car around and leave the happy throng behind..but we will be returning in August for the next Homespun Fair.. with a laden car full of Cowboys & Custard clobber as I will be attending the next fair.. can't wait!!
With the arrival of good weather I have virtually taken root in the garden for the last week and have completely fallen in love again with my lofty plot, in my usual fickle way! The winter seemed endless and left the garden looking sad and bereft.. A few days of welcome warm weather have worked wonders for the plants and now the gaps are closing up and the bare brown earth is gradually being carpeted with perennials and Spring bulbs..
It is our intention one day to up sticks and move to the country where Mr Custard is keen to keep chickens, grow his own veg and own a bee hive.With this in mind.. I suggested we dig over our embarrassingly overgrown veg patch and start this idyll by planting our first bed of broad beans etc.. Well.. Mr C's idea of gardening is to sit and strum the guitar sipping something cool... whilst I sweat and toil over the soil...

SO.. one sweaty afternoon later... this presentable patch emerged and now I have a family of broad beans, two rows of shallots (under the soil)one artichoke, rhubarb and some giant garlic (under the soil) sitting happily alongside each other...

Last weekend Jayne and I trundled off to the Dairy House Textile Fair in Semley ... a very successful event organised by Sue. A very enjoyable visit and once again many friendly and familiar faces were there.. Lizzie who was a blur of activity, Niki from Nostalgia, Donna Flower, Helen Roskell... were all there with their beautiful stalls enticing a happy crowd of buyers and visitors. Sadly I forgot to take my camera so you will have to visit Sue's blog to see the wonderful photos of the day.
I am sure this event will be one of many and has put Semley firmly on the map!!
So.. This has been an eventful and very happy hols... with even a touch of decorating thrown in.. a bathroom that was crying out for a lick of paint ..

Wonders will never cease... I even picked up a needle and thread for the first time since my clumsy efforts in needlework lessons at school... and created this..

Using my own badges, cowboy charms and buttons.. Not sure this was for my own amusement or whether it will sell... but I did enjoy this late foray in to the world of sewing...


Last but not least.. we discovered a small pocket of paradise only a hop and a skip from our home and I look forward to sharing this jewel of a garden with you in my next blog post..
I will leave you with an appetiser.. The gateway to this beautiful place..

So.. Miss.. this is wot I done in my hols...
Do I get a gold star?

Easter Greetings

Wishing all my lovely blogging friends and followers a fine festive Easter weekend.. may it bring you happy times and some sunshine to ice the occasion..

Happy Easter from The Custard Household...xxx

Every picture tells a story ...

I recently discovered an old negative, not seen for many years.. buried in a drawer of papers. Thanks to my dear friend Emma, it finally came to life as a photo as she cleverly scanned it with some techy wizadry.. et voila.. a flood of memories were re-awakened.
The year was 1961.. and I was three years old..sitting on my mother's lap in our super deluxe Vauxhall Cresta. I can still remember the smell of the leather seats of the car, the cardboard sandwiches which were a traditional lunch on journeys from Berkshire to Cornwall. We always stopped on Dartmoor to stretch our legs and re-charge our batteries with our picnic lunch.. and feed the wild Dartmoor ponies my uneaten crusts...tut tut! It used to take 8 hours door to door.. truly an epic voyage.
If I had to save one belonging from a burning house.. it would be this photo.

I am still struggling to come up to full steam.. but hope to be back in the blogging community with a spring in my step soon..

Happy Mothers' Day

To every mum up and down the land.. and across the seas..

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

... and to my own darling mother.. wherever you may be.. Love you xx

Something to write home about...

A beautiful Spring day.. if not a little cold.. and I took time out... only about half an hour or so..but just enough.
Walking down the hill into town .. no traffic? Most unusual for the streets of Bath especially at lunch time..

Helicopter hovering overhead.... what's going on?

It wasn't long before I hit the crowds and the sea of Union Jack Flags..and just in the nick of time I found my spot along the main street to jostle into position with my camera..
Armed with tissues and smiles..to welcome..
Our local hero..

Amy Williams.. Winter Olympics Skeleton Gold Medallist 2010 ..

Lots of cheering.. lots of smiles.. and a big lump in my throat..call it National Pride..



This is probably the closest I will ever get to a gold medal..

Today has certainly been something to write home about !

P.s It wasn't only Amy that has got such a warm welcome. I was so pleased by all your friendly 'welcome back' comments on my last post. It had been a long time in blogland between posts and one could almost hear the tumbleweeds and the vultures cry. Thank you for being so faithful and returning to this wayward blogger!

By a Whisker ...

Cat got your tongue? Well I think this little puddy tat has had my tongue for the last month or so...
I seemed to have mislaid my blogging voice of late..I am certainly not short of mental fodder to write about .. much on my mind... but have found it hard to form sentences.
With the days growing longer by degrees.. I feel as though I am emerging from a very long winter hibernation. Judging by the layers of winter fat that have accumulated around my middle and derriere, I certainly feel an affinity with my local badger and fox community.
The bird song has shifted a gear and the light seems to stretch just that bit longer each day... seemingly overnight. One day I was staggering to the post box in the dark at 5.00 p.m and the next day I was watching the sun sink behind the hills of Bath. So.. Spring is just around the corner and with it a whole lot of good intentions and happy ventures..and much goings on behind the scenes.
Now where shall I start...?
After weeks of staring out of the window and wringing my hands at the state of our garden, I finally set foot outside and confronted the aftermath of the wintry weather. With secateurs in hand and a brand new pair of gardening gloves.. I took no prisoners.. by cutting and pruning back the delinquent shrubs and shrivelled plants. Can't say it looks a huge improvement..tidy yes..attractive.. no. Very hard to believe that it will ever look green and lush again.. but in three months time.. I will be fighting my way through the vegetation again and cursing the weeds.
I will spare you the photographic evidence..You will just have to use your imagination ..Death Valley meets urban wasteland.. Get the picture? Here's one I took earlier.. on a good day!I am sure the blogging world is abuzz with the latest flurry of vintage style fairs (see side-bar for more details) that are springing up hither and dither.. Lizzie & Clare's, Jane & Christine's, Sue's, to name but a few..hats off to you girls for being enterprising and biting the bullet.
Jayne and I are busy making plans for our first Textile Fair to be held in Chipping Sodbury on Saturday July 3rd..It will be an opportunity for the many textile orientated artists and merchants to showcase their work...We are starting small but if it proves as successful as the Vintage & Handmade Fairs.. then who knows where it will be held next... Olympia? Ha ha!!!That was a joke folk!!
There is also a May fair to think about.. only weeks.. which equate to days... away.. gulp!!!Milly and I have a daily date with the brown paper and sellotape dept. and should soon be experts in the art of origami and how 'not to' wrap a parcel.. Why oh why does the end of the sellotape always make itself unavailable? and why do I turn around, after spending half an hour wrapping a particularly tricky item.. to find that the packing slip is sitting behind me. Grrrrr!
Despite these small gripes.. we are having such a good time sharing our enterprise which is now 6 months old and thriving.. thanks to some charming and most obliging customers! Mentions in Homes & Antiques glossy pages has certainly provided us with a wide range of visitors.. from Tasmania to Belgium.

If I had thought two and a half years ago.. what would I be doing now.. it certainly wouldn't have involved me being an event organiser or Emporium partner.. both ventures have brought me so much enjoyment and a multitude of new friends and acquaintances.. so.. 'expect the unexpected' and you never know.. it might just happen!!

I hope you are all tickety boo and surviving the wrath of this winter.. It sure feels like a long haul.. but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.. it's called Easter.. when the clocks forward.

Love in a cold climate ..

Please forgive me if I have been a bit quiet of late... Thinking I could ease myself gently in to the new year..I realised.. in my usual..' last minute' style, that there was much to be done in the world of greeting cards designs.. Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter.. follow each other in quick succession and there is no time afforded for chewing my pencil and wondering what to do...
It is certainly the weather for snuggling up to a loved one.. and will soon be the season for blue-birds, doves, hearts and roses..
Cowboys & Custard productions has been beavering away at the old kitchen table.. and would like to present to you the latest Valentine cards...
Ta da!

On the wings of a Dove.. original love poem from a Victorian album.. printed dove on linen badge...Kiss me quick.. with a kitschy comic book kiss ..embellished with rhinestone heart..Don't beat about the bush... say it how it is...with I Love You, Crazy About You, Whole Lotta Love
Heart printed on linen badge....And finally... this one's for the boys..All of these cards can be found at my web shop at Not on the High Street....
Milly and I have also been rather preoccupied in the stockroom and new department at Milly & Dottie's Emporium..
The Dovecote is our latest collection of floral finds, love tokens and all things close to our hearts.. a little romance..Please drop in for a visit when you are passing..you never know what you may find!

On the Piste..

My mother taught me never to laugh at other's misfortune..
I am sorry... I just can't help myself... this is hilarious
If you are fed up with all this white stuff underfoot.. just watch this film clip and thank your lucky stars you are not on the piste...in true Kevin style.